Juventus and Italy great Gianluigi Buffon has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 45.

The World Cup winner enjoyed a successful 28-year career and played his last two seasons at boyhood club Parma in Serie B.

Buffon terminated his contract with Parma which was set to run until June 2024 before confirming his retirement.

The Italian posted a video on his Twitter account on Wednesday which read: “That’s all folks! You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together.”

Regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of all time, Buffon spent two decades at Juventus, either side of a 12-month spell at Paris Saint-Germain in 2018-19.

He made his professional debut for Parma aged 17 in 1995 and four years later won the Coppa Italia, UEFA Cup and Italian Supercoppa at the club. He moved to Juventus in 2001 in a €52 million ($57m) transfer, a then-world record fee for a goalkeeper.

At Juve, he won 10 Serie A titles in 19 seasons, as well as the Serie B championship in 2006-07 when the club played in the second tier after they were relegated as a result of the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal.

He also won the Coppa Italia five times and the Italian Supercoppa on six occasions. Buffon reached three Champions League finals with Juve but failed to win the famous trophy.

In 2018, he moved to PSG as a free agent and won the Ligue 1 title and Trophee des Champions before returning to Juve the following season.

Buffon is the most capped player for Italy with 176 international appearances.

He made his Azzurri debut in 1997 and was selected for nine major tournaments from 1998 to 2016 and was an unused sub at the 1998 World Cup.

He kept five clean sheets in seven games to help Italy lift the 2006 World Cup.

Buffon was named Ballon d’Or runner-up that year, beaten only by Azzurri teammate Fabio Cannavaro. Buffon was also captain of the Italy side that lost the Euro 2012 final to Spain.

He retired from international duty after 20 years of service in 2017.

Juventus captain Leonardo Bonucci was among those to praise Buffon’s legacy.

The former Italy defender wrote: “You’ve been un1que. And you always will be. I can’t even find the words to describe what you’ve been, what you taught me, what you gave me. Thanks, my friend.”

After retiring, Buffon is in line to take on a role as Italy’s national team delegation chief.

Sweden beat Argentina to make it three wins from three at the Women’s World Cup, clinching top spot in Group G and a mouth-watering last-16 meeting with the USA.

With first place essentially guaranteed thanks to a vastly superior goal difference, Sweden made nine changes in Hamilton and lacked the cohesion of their first two games but still had too much for their opponents.

After a fiercely contested hour, Sweden’s extra quality shone through, with Rebecka Blomqvist finding space in the box to power home Sofia Jakobsson’s cross from close range.

Elin Rubensson put the result beyond doubt with a coolly taken late penalty after Blomqvist had been fouled in the box as Argentina sought to defend a free-kick.

Argentina depart the tournament having finished bottom of the group with one point.

They battled hard here but were unable to hurt the Swedes and claim what would have been a historic double at a World Cup finals – a maiden win and progression to the knockout rounds for the first time.

South Africa join the Swedes in the last 16 after winning 3-2 against Italy in a dramatic game in Wellington.

Big challenge awaits superb Sweden

After a European Championship in 2022 in which they reached the last four but were hampered by injuries and coronavirus, Sweden have looked every inch a side keen to do even better in this World Cup.

They are used to going deep in major tournaments, having reached the last four in five of the last six, and have some chastening recent near misses to further fuel them – none more so than their shootout agony in the final of the Tokyo Olympics.

Having seen off South Africa and hit five past Italy in their opening two games, Peter Gerhardsson demonstrated the depth at his disposal and the confidence surging through his squad by making sweeping changes but retaining structure and cohesion.

Argentina – drinking in this tournament’s last-chance saloon – made life difficult for the side ranked third in the world with some high pressing and committed tackling, but goalkeeper Jennifer Falk had little to do.

German Portanova’s side were also hampered by the loss of Real Madrid midfielder Florencia Bonsegundo, who left the field on a stretcher and in tears after suffering an injury in the first half.

Sweden struggled to show a cutting edge themselves for just over an hour, with Olivia Schough’s off-target header the best effort fashioned by either side.

But when their big chance came they took it as Blomqvist charged in unmarked to nod home Jakobsson’s whipped delivery.

Blomqvist was again a handful late on as Gabriela Chavez held her in the box as a free-kick was sent in, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Rubensson did the rest with aplomb, calmly and clinically despatching the penalty.

Sweden will need such qualities and more in Melbourne on Sunday when they take on four-time winners and reigning champions the USA in the first knockout round.

The Americans have been far from their scintillating best so far in this tournament, but they remain packed with talent and, as they have shown in the previous two World Cups, know how to get the job done.

The USA and Sweden will be meeting for a sixth World Cup in succession and a seventh time overall at the finals, going back to each team’s first game at FIFA’s inaugural edition in China in 1991.

The spoils have gone the Americans’ way in four of the previous World Cup meetings and 23 of the 42 games between them overall.

South Africa are into the last 16 after claiming their first Women’s World Cup win with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Italy in Wellington.

Thembi Kgatlana’s stoppage-time winner came after Italy fought back to level with an Arianna Caruso header.

The late drama completed an emotional fortnight for the South African goalscorer.

“Over the last two weeks, I’ve lost three family members. I could have gone home but I chose to stay with my girls,” Kgatlana said.

“Because that’s how much it means.”

The Racing Louisville forward, who suffered an Achilles injury in 2022 that kept her sidelined for 10 months, added: “I came back from a very, brutal injury to be here, to play for the country, to represent every single girl that wanted to be here, to make history with the girls for South Africa.”

South Africa will play Group E winners the Netherlands on Sunday.

After earning a first World Cup point in their 2-2 draw with Argentina, the Banyana Banyana have shown significant progress from their debut appearance at the tournament in 2019, when they lost all three group matches.

There were scenes of jubilation for the South Africa players when the final whistle confirmed they had made history for their nation.

“They fought like warriors,” manager Desiree Ellis said.

“They fought like the heroines that we know that they are. They fought to be historically remembered and they’ve made history not just getting our first win, but going to the round of 16 and that is freaking amazing.

“This victory is for everyone back home, people that got up in the early hours of the morning to support us – that is for them.”

Knowing a win would guarantee their place in the knockout rounds, Italy got off to the perfect start when they were awarded a penalty as Karabo Dhlamini caught the heels of teenager Chiara Beccari and Caruso calmly converted to put her side in command of their World Cup future.

However, South Africa were gifted a leveller as Benedetta Orsi, playing her first World Cup match, was left red-faced when she hit a no-look back pass to a surprised Francesca Durante and it rolled into her own net.

Ellis’ side burst into the lead when Kgatlana slipped a clever ball through the Italy defence to put Hildah Magaia through on goal and she lifted it over Durante.

VAR seemed like it may have come to South Africa’s rescue when Caruso equalised from a corner, but after a lengthy delay the goal was given.

A draw would have been enough to take Italy into the knockout rounds, but their hearts were broken when Magaia stepped through the defence and squared to Kgatlana, who made no mistake in finding the back of the net.

Jamaica ensured there would be no fairytale ending to Marta’s World Cup career as they strangled Brazil 0-0 to reach the last 16 on Wednesday and condemn the South Americans to their earliest exit since 1995.

It was heartbreak for the legendary Brazilian attacker Marta, who at age 37 has said this would be her last World Cup.

But it was joy for a Jamaica team who are yet to concede at the tournament and are into the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.

Lorne Donaldson’s unbeaten side will most likely meet Colombia next.

Brazil had to win to be sure of going through, whereas Jamaica needed only to draw.

So it was little surprise that it was the South Americans who had far the better of the first half in Melbourne.

In front of a crowd of nearly 28 000, Brazil had more of the ball and attempts at goal – Jamaica had none on target all game to Brazil’s five.

But for all that and with Marta starting, Jamaica were never really in serious trouble at any point in the game.

Jamaica, who held France 0-0 before getting their first-ever World Cup win with a 1-0 victory over Panama, were defending deep and in numbers.

Pia Sundhage’s Brazil, who have never won the World Cup, looked short of ideas as they went to the break goalless.

The second half was more of the same but Brazil were struggling to really create a golden chance.

Khadija Shaw, the prolific Manchester City striker and Jamaica’s undoubted star, was hardly seen as an attacking force.

Into the last 20 minutes and Jamaica showed few signs of buckling, as Brazil simply ran out of steam and ideas.

Jamaica’s achievement, having lost all three games in their debut World Cup in 2019, is all the more remarkable considering the tensions behind the scenes.

Defender Allyson Swaby said last week that making an impact at the tournament would send a message to the country’s football bosses that the women’s team deserve better treatment.

Donaldson’s team has been in open dispute with their football federation over a lack of support, including issues over pay and poor planning in the build-up to the World Cup.

Kadidiatou Diani hit a hat-trick as France marched into the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup on Wednesday in a 6-3 thriller against Panama.

It was a polished recovery after Marta Cox’s wonder strike on 67 seconds left the French reeling, swerving a freekick into the corner from 30 yards for her country’s first-ever World Cup goal.

She spun away in celebration and was mobbed by teammates as the tears flowed at a sold-out Sydney Football Stadium.

But the euphoria was short-lived as France ran riot, with Diani scoring twice – one a penalty – and Maelle Lakrar and Lea Le Garrec adding a goal apiece before halftime.

Paris Saint-Germain striker Diani got her third from the spot after the restart, but Panama refused to give up.

Yomira Pinzon added their second with a crisply-struck penalty and Lineth Cedeno scored again in an exciting finale, before Vicki Becho finished well to seal the game for France in injury time.

The win ensured France finished top of Group F to set up a knockout round clash with the second-placed team in Group H – most likely Germany.

Jamaica held Brazil 0-0 in the other group game to finish second and face a showdown with the Group H winner, probably Colombia.

With only a point needed, France coach Herve Renard shuffled the deck, making five changes.

He rested inspirational captain Wendie Renard, with Grace Geyoro assuming the armband. Veteran striker Eugenie Le Sommer also made way with Clara Mateo and Diani up front.

But the perennial World Cup underachievers were caught on the hop as play got underway and Cox surged forward, with Le Garrec tripping her.

Cox lined up the kick and curled it into the top left-hand corner for one of the goals of the tournament.

Panama were swiftly brought back to earth with France settling to take control, and the inevitable equaliser came 20 minutes later.

It followed a period of intense pressure with Lakrar getting her head on a cross and Deysire Salazar lashing the ball into her own net, although it was credited to the French defender.

They went 3-1 ahead nine minutes later when Diani converted from the spot after Pinzon was penalised for handball, with Le Garrec adding the fourth after a curling cross deceived the goalkeeper and flew in.

Diani buried her second penalty seven minutes after the restart, again for handball, before Pinzon pulled one back when teammate Riley Tanner was shoved to the ground in the box.

Panama threw everything at France as the crowd cheered them on and Cedeno sent them into raptures when she got their third, forcing home the rebound after the ball hit the bar.

In end-to-end action, Becho popped up at the near post to score a sixth for France at the death.